advocate equality – The Woman Wednesday Blog

Q and A with Cassandra, from Boston, MA, living in Tampa, FL

“Don’t be afraid to sacrifice who you are right now to become who you are meant to be.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I love to help people win! Learning about other’s backgrounds, what experiences happened along the way that made them who they are, and helping them get to the level they want to be is what brings me joy.

Working since the age of 14, I’ve explored careers in a variety of industries from fast food to fast fashion, and I’ve been exposed to quite a bit of unique situations. It’s the people that keep me going, especially the underdog. After years of working in HR and witnessing multiple workplace discrepancies, I decided to start my own company to help those discriminated against have a fair hiring process.

In December 2020, I started my company RAAISE Staffing Solutions, an IT recruitment firm that works with companies making Diversity & Inclusion a priority on a direct hire basis. We support the career advancement of all professionals of color, emphasizing on the Black community.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I’m an only child that was raised by my mom, grandma, and auntie. They definitely kept me active and made me the woman that I am today. I did ballet, tap, lacrosse, and martial arts! My mom, grandma, and auntie were huge advocates for education and traditional work structures.

I graduated with honors from Johnson & Wales University, Providence Campus, and worked in my major of fashion for a few years. Creating fashion weeks, appearing on radio stations, TV shows, and even walking the runway; I did it all and loved it!

Once I started working in HR, it made me a better person, so I knew it was what I was meant to do. It was a lot for them to take in that I decided to leave the 9-5 life for that of an entrepreneur, but they are getting used to it and are very supportive!

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Eventually, we all have to burn the boat and storm the island. Transitioning from the workforce to self-employed has been a remarkable journey full of ups and downs. I’ve learned that in order to reach the next level of my career, I have to makes changes and let go. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice who you are right now to become who you are meant to be.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunities for us all!

MORE FROM CASSANDRA:

I use motivational quotes for keeping me strong, a good laugh on the rough days, and to remind me to never to give up on me. These are a few of my favorites:

“Deny yourself nothing in life.” – Wendy Williams

“Save your heart for love, use your brain for business.” – The Office

“You got champagne taste and beer money.” – 30 For 30, Broke

“Never allow a person to say no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leader.” – Robert Townsend

Thank you for reading!

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Q and A with Holly R., from a small town outside of Philadelphia, PA

“Be your own advocate.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about serving others. I have always been drawn to helping others. I am a scientist in a pharmaceutical company and have been so lucky to have been part of teams that brought three transformational drugs to the market to treat arthritis, IBD, and psoriasis. Now, I am also a ketogenic lifestyle coach–I believe strongly in the lifestyle to not only help people lose weight without feeling deprived, but it also is used to treat debilitating diseases like my son’s intractable epilepsy. I have a very holistic approach to living this lifestyle. I feel that it is very important not only to help my clients lose weight, but we also work on repairing their relationship with food with meditation, subliminal guides, and a program that is the most advanced human healing technology and a proven fitness and nutrition system that will make you love the process of looking and feeling your best.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I had a very loving upbringing. I grew up next door to my grandparents and other relatives, so I was always around a large family. My parents were very young and very involved in all aspects of my life from volunteering at my (and my sister’s) schools to coaching our sports teams and anything where they could participate. I didn’t have brothers, so I think that I became a surrogate son for my dad–he taught me how to work on cars, how to do home repairs, how to lift weights and scuba dive. It really affected my confidence–he raised me to believe that I can do anything. He gave me the strength to excel in college, buy my own house, start my own business. I never had any fears about raising my sons on my own, and I always had the support of my entire family behind me.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: I want others to learn that we all have a badass successful woman inside of us–we just need to let her shine. All it takes is courage and believing in yourself. Another very important lesson I have learned from raising a son with a disability is that you have to be your own advocate. He didn’t have his first seizure until he was 14, and once he was diagnosed with epilepsy, everything changed. School didn’t want him taking the bus, playing sports, going on class trips. He has had job offers rescinded. I had to research disability laws and educate myself so that I could be his advocate. Everything would have been so different if I let others make decisions based on what is best for them.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Feminism is the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. I believe that since I was raised to believe that from the start, I never thought about it much until I was older. When I began existing in corporate America, I realized that there is a huge inequality that needs to be addressed. As a manager, I became aware that men who reported to me make more money than I do and tend to get promoted much quicker. I can make a suggestion in a meeting, and it is dismissed. The same idea is mentioned by a male colleague a few minutes later and he is seen as genius! To call it frustrating is an understatement, but I am confident enough to call people out when it happens. I don’t always get a solution that I am happy with, but I still speak my mind.

MORE FROM HOLLY: If anyone wants to reach me or learn more about the ketogenic lifestyle, they can join my FB group Hot Mess Mamma’s Guide to the Ketogenic Diet (because you don’t have to be perfect to look and feel your best! It’s okay to be a hot mess).

Tag: advocate equality

Woman Wednesday: Cassandra

Woman Wednesday: Holly R.